Jody Mercier

Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Jody

Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC with Entertainment for Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Fri, 02/16/2024 - 1:33pm

You can't beat watching the amazing waitstaff at Ellen's Stardust Diner.

There's no shortage of family-friendly restaurants in NYC. Sometimes, though, it takes more than just a kid-friendly menu to get through a night out with your sanity intact. Food halls are one option, as are play cafes. But we've also rounded up 12 kid-friendly restaurants with entertainment in NYC. At these local restaurants, you can enjoy everything from video games to kitty cats alongside kid-friendly eats.

Read on for our picks for family-friendly restaurants in NYC with entertainment for kids, and find all our top options for dining out in our NYC Kids' Guide to Restaurants.

Culture Pass NYC Lets You Use Your Library Card to Get into NYC Museums and Gardens for Free

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 01/01/2024 - 11:23am

Take advantage of Culture Pass for access to world class museums and programs, like those at the Sugar Hill Museum. Photo by Janet Bloom

Thanks to your library card and the Culture Pass NYC program, New York's cultural treasures—from museums to gardens, performing arts institutions, and more—are all just a few keystrokes away. While New York is home to some of the world's greatest cultural institutions, visiting them all with your family regularly can seriously add up. So, while we're always on the hunt for free times to visit NYC museums, if you're a current cardholder at the New York, Brooklyn, or Queens Public Library, you're going to want to read on for the details on how to unlock the NYC Culture Pass benefit.

The Coolest New Stuff for Families in NYC Metro Area – Our 2023 Review

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 12/24/2023 - 10:00am

The American Museum of Natural History debuted the Gilder Center last spring. Photo by Jody Mercier

'Tis the season for celebrations and year-in-review stories, and the Mommy Poppins team is toasting these 17 family-friendly 2023 openings. From a wet-and-wild playground at Legoland New York to AMNH's expansive museum expansion with the Gilder Center and plenty more fun places for family playtime, 2023 brought a ton of new kid-friendly attractions for our readers to enjoy in New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and beyond.

We can't wait to see what 2024 has in store—and thank you, our dear readers, for following along this year. Cheers to you—and another year of bringing you the best things to do with kids.

Astra Lumina Lights Up Queens Botanical Garden with After-Dark Walk-Thru

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 12/18/2023 - 4:04pm

Step into a celestial landscape courtesy of Astra Lumina and the Queens Botanical Garden.

It's not hard to find an after-dark holiday light installation in NYC this winter. From the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo to Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a ton of Christmas light drive-thrus in the suburbs, there are plenty of options, but none are quite like Astra Lumina at the Queens Botanical Garden.

Astra Lumina is QBG's first after-dark installation, and it lights up a mile-long trail in an awe-inspiring display that transports visitors to a whole new galaxy with an eye-popping display of lights, projections, and soundscapes.

Westgate Branson Woods: Family-Style Suites in the Charming Ozark Town

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sat, 12/16/2023 - 12:00pm

Westgate Branson Woods Resort is nestled on 145 beautiful wooded acres in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. Photo courtesy of the resort

When it comes to family travel, a comfortable crash pad is a must in my book! And the fact that my family of five doesn't fit in your standard hotel room always complicates our vacation planning. But a recent trip to Branson, Missouri, came with a pleasant, super-sized surprise. My visit landed me in one of the most lovely, family-friendly Branson, Mo. hotels: the Branson Westgate Woods Resort. It was the perfect place for us to stay in one of our favorite Christmas towns in the US.

The rustic, mountain lodge-themed property sprawls out over 145 beautiful, wooded acres and packs in plenty of family-friendly activities. But when you've had enough fun, the spacious, suite-style accommodations wait to welcome you back like a warm hug—cozy fireplace included!

Read on for more of what you can expect from this Branson, Mo. hotel and the town it calls home, then bookmark our Midwest Family Vacation Guide to start planning a trip of your own.

Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 12/14/2023 - 1:25pm

The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH

Make art, explore the natural world, and enjoy science projects at NYC's top kid-friendly museums.

New AMNH Exhibit Reveals The Secret Life of Elephants

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Tue, 11/14/2023 - 1:34pm

Get up close to a life-sized African Elephant model at the AMNH's new Secret World of Elephant exhibit. Photo by Alvaro Keding/AMNH

Step into The Secret World of Elephants courtesy of a brand-new exhibit now open at the American Museum of Natural History.

The sprawling exhibition dedicated to the world's largest land mammal is filled with life-sized models—some surprisingly pint-sized—interactive displays, and touchpoints aimed at teaching the public about these incredible animals and their evolutionary relatives.

Read on for a sneak peek at this exhibition and find more fun museum exhibits to explore with kids in our NYC Kids Guide to Museums and Galleries.

NYC's Best Immersive Museums and Pop-Up Experiences for Kids Right Now

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 11/06/2023 - 1:52pm

No matter when you visit, there's a flurry of fun to be had at Color Factory's interactive museum in NYC.

One of my favorite perks to city living is the NYC museums that surround us. It's easy to find culture on every corner from The Met's iconic artwork to dioramas, artifacts, and dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History and the rest of these top children's museums in NYC, but when you're in search of something more hands-on and interactive, NYC is a boon for that, too!

Below, find our top picks for immersive museums in NYC, where kids can get hands-on and play with slime, jump in a ball pit, bury themselves in sprinkles, and more. These immersive NYC museums are perfect rainy-day destinations that will help kids burn off some energy and introduce them to everything from art to science or simply the art of selfies in a fun and experiential way.

Find all our top kid-culture spots in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits in NYC for Kids.

Jody Mercier

Latest posts by Jody

Pages